COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Coloado Colorado Springs went to the fifth set for the third straight match, but finished on the short end of a 3-2 match to Colorado State-Pueblo tonight in the Gallogly Events Center. The Mountain Lions (8-6, 3-3 RMAC) fell in 25-22, 26-28, 20-25, 25-17 and 9-15 sets to the ThunderWolves (6-9, 4-2 RMAC).
Taylor Hamilton led the offense for the fourth straight match with 16 kills and made four blocks on defense. The defending RMAC Offensive Player of the Week is hitting .359 this season and is on pace for the second-best attack percentage in program history and the best in the rally scoring era.
The Mountain Lions never trailed in the first set and held off a late CSU-Pueblo rally to take the 1-0 match lead on a 25-22 victory. UCCS hit .265 in the set with 15 kills. The Mountain Lions led 22-17 in the second set before the ThunderWolves tied the set at 23-23 with a 6-1 run. UCCS held set point at 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25, but CSU-Pueblo scored the final three points to even the match on a 28-26 decision.
CSU-Pueblo used a 6-1 rally midway through the third set to build a 17-10 advantage against the Mountain Lions. UCCS cut it down to 21-17 and held off three straight set points before an attacking error finished the set with a 25-20 score. The Mountain Lions hit .257 as a team in the fourth set and used a 9-3 lead midway through the set and finished with a 5-1 rally to force a fifth set on a 25-17 win.
The ThunderWolves scored the first five points of the fifth set before UCCS responded with four straight points to cut the deficit down to a point. CSU-Pueblo used an extended 8-2 rally to build a 13-6 lead and finished the set hitting .450 to claim the set at 15-9 and the match at 3-2.
Alyssa Brinton made 14 kills along with 15 digs and
Cassidy Bush finished with 10 kills and four blocks.
Lauren Brown tied for the match-high with five blocks while
Natasha Habert led the back row with 29 digs.
Morgan Evans recorded a balanced night with 47 assists, 10 digs, six kills and three blocks.
UCCS will finish a three-match home stretch on Tuesday in a 7 p.m., match with MSU Denver. The Roadrunners (11-3, 6-0 RMAC) defeated New Mexico Highlands 3-1 tonight.